Fernand Jacquet
Encyclopedia
Captain-Commandant Fernand Maximillian Leon Jacquet was a World War I flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories. He was the first Belgian pilot to score an aerial victory, on 17 April 1915, and became the first Belgian ace on 1 February 1917. He was also the first Belgian pilot to fly his king to the front, in 1917. Additionally, he was the only Belgian honored by the British with a Distinguished Flying Cross
.
.
. It seems probable that the Belgian had a gunner on the ground for the same reason he had one in the air; the gunners had to do the shooting because Jacquet was too nearsighted. Additionally, Jacquet would increasingly 'push the envelope' in his aerial missions, whether volunteering for "special missions", or simply hell-raising. In the latter category, Jacquet bombed the Germans at Groote Hemme on 24 November 1914, and again on Christmas Eve at Beerst
and Essen
. In the former, while brave men brought home the aerial photographs and reconnaissance sightings from the front, Jacquet penetrated past them to pierce deep into the German defenses, looking for a fight.
s on 26 February 1915, and took them on, though without success. On three other occasions, he attacked single Aviatiks. Finally, on 17 April 1915, he scored his nation's first aerial victory. Jacquet was taken under fire by the observer of a German Albatros
two-seater at hundred yard range. He was flying a Farman HF.20 pusher
with a Lewis gun, but it was his gunner, Henri de Vindevoghel, who fired the fatal seven shots from 30 yards that killed the pilot, doomed his gunner, and set the plane on fire. Jacquet followed up with an indecisive combat on 20 June, when he claimed an enemy airplane driven down out of control, and on 28 July 1915, when he unsuccessfully claimed forcing an enemy plane to land.
. Over the next month, the two Belgians rampaged, claiming two more wins that went unconfirmed, dropping flechettes on a German observation balloon, and strafing the Germans at Ghistelles. On the afternoon and evening of 30 July, Jacquet and Robin clashed with a series of Germans, being credited with an LVG
destroyed. Their probable victim was Oberleutnant Franz Walz
, who was downed with severe wounds that day.
Jacquet and Robin survived being shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 8 September 1916, they remaining uninjured even as their plane was demolished. They were probably flying a Belgian modification of the Farman. In December 1916, Jacquet was promoted to command of his squadron, 1ère Escadrille de Chasse.
from 12,500 feet altitude.
On 18 March 1917, Jacquet was honored by being picked to personally fly his king, King Albert
, on a tour of the front lines; the monarch and pilot were escorted by five Nieuport
s. When Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse
was organized later that month, King Albert was insistent that Jacquet take command.
Jacquet tried to acquire Bristol F.2 Fighter
s to replace his aged Farmans. He received SPAD XIs and Sopwith 1A2s instead. Meantime, Lieutenant Robin went off to pilot's training. Jacquet was promoted to Captain-Commandant
in December.
with Palme, and awarded the Croix de Guerre
with six citations, eight chevrons de front, Croix Civil 3rd Class, Medaille Victoire
, and Medaille de Commemoration 1914–1918. The French made him a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and awarded him their Croix de Guerre. The Russians awarded him their Order of Saint Anne. The British awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross
; he would be the only Belgian to receive one.
, at Gosselies
.
When the Germans once again invaded Belgium, at the start of World War II, Jacquet returned to his nation's service. He was an active member of the Belgian Resistance
until imprisoned in Huy
Fortress in 1942. He was then held until war's end.
Fernand Jacquet died in Beaumont in his beloved Belgium, on 12 October 1947.
Claimed victories are listed below in chronological order. Confirmed victories are numbered. Unconfirmed victories are marked "u/c".
List compiled from Above the War Fronts and www.theaerodrome.com
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with seven aerial victories. He was the first Belgian pilot to score an aerial victory, on 17 April 1915, and became the first Belgian ace on 1 February 1917. He was also the first Belgian pilot to fly his king to the front, in 1917. Additionally, he was the only Belgian honored by the British with a Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
Background
Jacquet was the son of a wealthy landowner. He joined the Belgian Army as a cadet in October 1907; he was commissioned on 25 June 1910 and then assigned to the 4ème Régt de Ligne. He qualified as a pilot on 25 February 1913 with Brevet No. 68, and at the outbreak of war was serving with the Escadrille Demanet (I) in LiegeLiege
Liège is a municipality and a city of Belgium. The term Liège or Liege may also refer to:* Liege, a party to the oath of allegiance in feudalism .* Liège Island, in the Antarctic...
.
1914
When neutral Belgium was invaded by Germany in August 1914, Jacquet flew reconnaissance missions near Namur, and reported the hazards of the encroaching Germans. Nor was the action in the air enough for the aggressive French pilot. When not flying combat missions in a two-seater, he would rove the roads near the front in an automobile with a mounted Lewis machine gun; his gunner was none other than Joseph-Phillippe-Francois de Riquet, Prince de ChimayPrince de Chimay
Prince de Chimay is a noble title associated with Chimay in what is now Belgium. It is presently held by Philippe de Caraman-Chimay, 22nd Prince de Chimay.-Counts of Chimay:*1 Jean II de Croÿ, comte de Chimay...
. It seems probable that the Belgian had a gunner on the ground for the same reason he had one in the air; the gunners had to do the shooting because Jacquet was too nearsighted. Additionally, Jacquet would increasingly 'push the envelope' in his aerial missions, whether volunteering for "special missions", or simply hell-raising. In the latter category, Jacquet bombed the Germans at Groote Hemme on 24 November 1914, and again on Christmas Eve at Beerst
Beerst
- External links :*...
and Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
. In the former, while brave men brought home the aerial photographs and reconnaissance sightings from the front, Jacquet penetrated past them to pierce deep into the German defenses, looking for a fight.
1915
He found ten AviatikAviatik
Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische...
s on 26 February 1915, and took them on, though without success. On three other occasions, he attacked single Aviatiks. Finally, on 17 April 1915, he scored his nation's first aerial victory. Jacquet was taken under fire by the observer of a German Albatros
Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Albatros-Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer best known for supplying the German airforces during World War I.The company was based in Johannisthal, Berlin, where it was founded by Walter Huth and Otto Wiener on December 20, 1909. It produced some of the most capable fighter aircraft...
two-seater at hundred yard range. He was flying a Farman HF.20 pusher
Pusher configuration
In a craft with a pusher configuration the propeller are mounted behind their respective engine. According to Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind engine so that drive shaft is in compression...
with a Lewis gun, but it was his gunner, Henri de Vindevoghel, who fired the fatal seven shots from 30 yards that killed the pilot, doomed his gunner, and set the plane on fire. Jacquet followed up with an indecisive combat on 20 June, when he claimed an enemy airplane driven down out of control, and on 28 July 1915, when he unsuccessfully claimed forcing an enemy plane to land.
1916
On 20 May 1916, Jacquet's gunner was Lieutenant Robin. The Belgian duo fought meeting engagements with German floatplanes both morning and evening. In the evening battle, they took on half a formation of ten enemy planes, and sent one down for Jacquet's second confirmed win. There followed a string of unconfirmed claims, on 26 and 27 May and on 22 June. On 23 June, the Belgian Farman F.40 with the ghoulish insignia of a skull painted on the nose scored again, destroying a FokkerFokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
. Over the next month, the two Belgians rampaged, claiming two more wins that went unconfirmed, dropping flechettes on a German observation balloon, and strafing the Germans at Ghistelles. On the afternoon and evening of 30 July, Jacquet and Robin clashed with a series of Germans, being credited with an LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
destroyed. Their probable victim was Oberleutnant Franz Walz
Franz Walz
Generalleutnant Franz Walz began his military career in the infantry in 1905. In 1912, he switched to aviation. He attained the rank of Hauptmann while becoming a flying ace during World War I. He flew more than 500 combat sorties in Palestine and upon the Western Front. He scored seven confirmed...
, who was downed with severe wounds that day.
Jacquet and Robin survived being shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 8 September 1916, they remaining uninjured even as their plane was demolished. They were probably flying a Belgian modification of the Farman. In December 1916, Jacquet was promoted to command of his squadron, 1ère Escadrille de Chasse.
1917
On 1 February 1917, Jacquet finally became an ace. He and Robin downed a brown RumplerRumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
from 12,500 feet altitude.
On 18 March 1917, Jacquet was honored by being picked to personally fly his king, King Albert
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
, on a tour of the front lines; the monarch and pilot were escorted by five Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
s. When Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse
Groupe de Chasse
The Groupe de Chasse was Belgium's first dedicated Fighter Wing. It was created in March 1918 at Les Moëres aerodrome near Veurne. On request of King Albert I, Capitaine Fernand Jacquet was appointed Commanding Officer, and the Groupe de Chasse also became known as the Groupe Jaquet...
was organized later that month, King Albert was insistent that Jacquet take command.
Jacquet tried to acquire Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
s to replace his aged Farmans. He received SPAD XIs and Sopwith 1A2s instead. Meantime, Lieutenant Robin went off to pilot's training. Jacquet was promoted to Captain-Commandant
Captain-Commandant
Captain-Commandant is a subaltern commissioned officer rank in the Air component, Land component, the old Belgian Gendarmerie and Medical component of the Belgian Armed Forces. A Kapitein-Commandant or Capitaine-Commandant ranks directly above a Captain and immediately under a Major...
in December.
1918
Jacquet fought an indecisive combat on 3 June 1918, driving his enemy down out of control, an action which would have counted as a victory if the Belgian were flying under Royal Air Force rules. On 4 October, and again on 6 November, he used a Spad to force down a German two-seater. Fernand Jacquest ended the war with seven confirmed aerial victories and nine unconfirmed ones. He also had been honored with numerous decorations, both from his home nation and from her allies. His native Belgium made him a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold and an Officer of the Order of the CrownOrder of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
with Palme, and awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with six citations, eight chevrons de front, Croix Civil 3rd Class, Medaille Victoire
Victory Medal
Victory Medal, also referred to as the "Inter-Allied Victory Medal", can refer to one of the following World War I medals:-World War I Victory medals:*Victory Medal *World War I Victory Medal...
, and Medaille de Commemoration 1914–1918. The French made him a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and awarded him their Croix de Guerre. The Russians awarded him their Order of Saint Anne. The British awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
; he would be the only Belgian to receive one.
Post World War I
Fernand Jacquet left the Belgian military in 1920. With his old companion Robin, he started a flying school near CharleroiCharleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
, at Gosselies
Gosselies
Gosselies is a section of the Belgian town of Charleroi within the Walloon region in the Province of Hainaut. It was a commune of its own before the merger of the communes in 1977. Gosselies is the home for the headquarters of Caterpillar Belgium, and Solar Turbines Europe....
.
When the Germans once again invaded Belgium, at the start of World War II, Jacquet returned to his nation's service. He was an active member of the Belgian Resistance
Belgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
until imprisoned in Huy
Huy
Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population...
Fortress in 1942. He was then held until war's end.
Fernand Jacquet died in Beaumont in his beloved Belgium, on 12 October 1947.
List of aerial combats
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
Claimed victories are listed below in chronological order. Confirmed victories are numbered. Unconfirmed victories are marked "u/c".
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 April 1915 | Farman Farman Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were... |
Aviatik Aviatik Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische... reconnaissance plane |
Destroyed; burned | Beerst Beerst - External links :*... , Belgium |
Belgium's first ever aerial victory |
| u/c | 20 June 1915 | Farman | Enemy airplane | Driven down out of control | ||
| u/c | 26 July 1915 @ 1820 hours | Farman | Aviatik reconnaissance plane | Forced to land | Westende Westende Westende is a town in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West-Flanders. It lies on the Belgian coast, also called Flemish coast. It used to be the far west of the island Testerep which lay along the Belgian coast.... , Belgium |
|
| 2 | 20 May 1916 @ 2030 hours | Farman | Seaplane Seaplane A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft... |
Destroyed | Nieuwpoort, Belgium Nieuwpoort, Belgium Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062.... |
|
| u/c | 26 May 1916 @ 1820 hours | Farman | Aviatik reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Tourhout, Belgium | |
| u/c | 27 May 1916 @ 1925 hours | Farman | Aviatik reconnaissance plane | Forced to land | Koekelare Koekelare Koekelare is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Bovekerke, Koekelare proper and Zande. On January 1, 2006 Koekelare had a total population of 8,291... , Belgium |
|
| u/c | 22 June 1916 @ 0830 | Farman | LVG LVG Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was... reconnaissance plane |
Destroyed | Staden Staden Staden is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Oostnieuwkerke, Staden proper and Westrozebeke. On January 1, 2006 Staden had a total population of 10,969. The total area is 46.24 km² which gives a population density of 237... , Belgium |
|
| 3 | 23 June 1916 @ 0800 | Farman | Fokker Fokker Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919.... |
Destroyed | Koekelare | |
| u/c | 30 June 1916 @ 1900 hours | Farman | Aviatik reconnaissance plane | Forced to land | Handzame Handzame Handzame is a village in the Belgian province West-Flanders. It is part of the municipality Kortemark, which also comprises the villages Werken, Zarren and Kortemark itself.See also: West Flanders-External links:*... , Belgium |
|
| u/c | 8 July 1916 @ 650 hours | Farman | LVG reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Middelkerke Middelkerke Middelkerke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. The municipality comprises the towns of Leffinge, Lombardsijde, Mannekensvere, Middelkerke proper, Schore, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle, Slijpe, Westende and Wilskerke. On January 1, 2006... , Belgium |
|
| u/c | 30 July 1916 @ 1200 hours | Farman | LVG reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Houthulst Houthulst Houthulst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Houthulst proper, Jonkershove, Klerken and Merkem. On January 1, 2006 Houthulst had a total population of 9,051... Forest |
|
| 4 | 30 July 1916 @ 1630 hours | Farman | LVG reconnaissance plane | Destroyed | Houthulst, Belgium | |
| 5 | 1 February 1917 | Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter | Rumpler Rumpler The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28... reconnaissance plane |
Destroyed | Lombardsijde Lombardsijde Lombardsijde, also Lombartzyde, is a region in the Belgian commune of Middelkerke in West Flanders province, in northwestern Belgium near Nieuwpoort.Fighting occurred in and around Lombardsijde during World War I.-References:... , Belgium |
Jacquet became Belgium's first ace |
| u/c | 5 June 1918 @ 0642 hours | SPAD S.XI SPAD S.XI -References:* Davilla, James J., & Soltan, Arthur M., French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, Connecticut: Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0... |
Fokker Triplane Fokker Dr.I The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918... fighter |
Driven down out of control | Houthulst | |
| 6 | 4 October 1918 @ 0800 hours | SPAD S.XI | Rumpler reconnaissance plane | Forced to land | Gits Gits Gits may refer to:*The Gits - a punk band*Ghost in the Shell - Japanese cyberpunk manga*Gits, Belgium - village in West Flanders*Gits Food Products - Indian convenience packaged food company... |
|
| 7 | 6 November 1918 @ 0900 hours | SPAD S.XI | Two-seater | Forced to land | Ghent Ghent Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of... |
|
List compiled from Above the War Fronts and www.theaerodrome.com